Scarlett Van Dijk
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  • Home
  • About Me
  • Blog
  • Sky Stone Series
    • Map of Branzia
  • Poetry
  • Other Writing
  • Contact Me
  • Other
    • Images
    • Links

Interview with Mackenzie Flohr - 'The Rite of Wands'

7/2/2017

2 Comments

 
The Rite of Wands
Welcome, Mackenzie!
 
Thank you! Thank you for inviting me. I’m pleased to be here.

  1. Congratulations on the publication of your novel. Can you tell my readers more about it?​
    ​Thank you! My book is called The Rite of Wands. It’s the first in a new YA fantasy series, coming out on March 10th in both paperback and eBook. Fans of The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and even Doctor Who will enjoy it. Here’s a little teaser: 

    One boy…one Rite… And a world of deadly secrets that could change the course of history—forever

    And so begins the tale of Mierta McKinnon. When a horrible fate reveals itself during his Rite of Wands ceremony, he must find a way to change not only his destiny but also the land of Iverna’s.

    Forbidden from revealing the future he foresees to anyone, he is granted a wand and his magical powers, but still must master the realm of magic in order to save himself and those he loves.

    But Mierta is not the only one with secrets…especially when it’s impossible to know who to trust.

  2. How long have you been working on it and what influenced you to write it?
    The story first came to me in 2006 while on a road trip to the state of Indiana in the United States to see the LOTR Traveling Exhibition at the Indiana State Museum, featuring costumes, props, etc, from the fantasy movie trilogy The Lord of The Rings. When I’m traveling, I often stare at road signs to see if I will come across any names that just kind of jump out at me, and this one particular sign did more than just that. It gave me a story!

  3. May I ask what the sign said?
    You know that’s actually a good question because I honestly cannot remember! All I can say is it must have been some powerful sign!

  4. Can you tell me where the inspiration came for the design of your cover?
    Of course! The cover was designed by the amazing team at BHC Press. They actually took two scenes from my novel and incorporated it right into the design. What’s also cool is the wand in they used in middle of the cover was actually designed exclusively for my series by Magical Alley – Master Wandmakers, located in the state of Washington in the United States of America.

  5. You actually had a real wand made for the series?
    Yes! I wanted something to have to remember my series by so I contacted them to replicate the wand of one of my main characters in The Rite of Wands. What’s magical about the whole thing is this particular character I was inspired to write for actor Matt Smith, hoping someday I may be lucky enough to see him perform it on screen.
    Right around the time my wand was being crafted, I discovered he was going to be at Wizard World Cleveland Comic Con, which was in the area I grew up in. I ended up bringing him the wand, hoping he would sign it. When I set it on the table, he looked down at it and said, “Oh, wow.” I really wanted to tell him the story behind it, but I held my tongue, because I didn’t want to come across as a crazy fangirl (I don’t even know how to fangirl honestly!). He ended up signing it and just before I stepped out of line, he picked it up, had the biggest boyish grin on his face, and swung it at me and said, “Swoosh!”

  6. Wow! That’s quite the story. Do you think Matt Smith knows about your series?
    I believe he may. I’ve tweeted family members hoping they will pass it onto him. He’s not on social media so it’s hard to say. But it would be awesome if he did because I think he would enjoy it. Plus, wizards are cool ;)

  7. What kind of writer do you consider yourself – are you an outliner or a discovery (pantser) writer?
    I’m actually a mix of both! I did outline The Rite of Wands, but I’ll admit I went off course multiple times. It also really depends on which character I’m writing at the time. For example, whenever Mierta is in involved in a scene, it’s like he literally dictates to me how the story is supposed to go. I may have a brief idea of what is going to happen, like he is going to find a mysterious spell book under a bed, but otherwise, I have absolutely no idea where he’s going to take me, which makes writing his scenes fun and interesting!

  8. Which character would you say you relate to the most and why?
    What I find interesting about writing is when you start to create your characters you find pieces of yourself in all of them, even if you don’t want to admit it. Overall, I’d say I would relate best to Mierta and Orlynd. I’m a bit like a mix of them honestly. I really sympathize with wanting to please your parents and do the right thing, yet feeling uncertain and alone. I’m also eccentric, and have this crazy amount of energy, which takes me forever to get rid of. It’s one of the reasons why I’m a chronic insomniac because I cannot get my mind to shut off! I guarantee you will find me in bed awake if it’s 2 or 3 in the morning even if I have to be up in a couple hours. I cannot tell you how many times my friends in the UK have sent me a text message or IM asking me why the heck I’m still up lol! (Don’t ask what time it is that I’m writing this!)

  9. Speaking of characters, the wizard Orlynd has an interesting dialect in the story. What influenced you to write him that way?
    It’s kind of funny that you mention that because the actor I envisioned playing him has been accused more than once by American audiences of mumbling due to his Scottish accent, which, for the record, I totally disagree with, and honestly do not understand because I can understand him just fine! I wanted the sort of play off that joke by spelling many of his words out phonetically in order to emphasize Orlynd’s speaking patterns, which is what author Irvine Welsh did with his book, Trainspotting.

  10. What can we expect from you in the future?
    I am working on the beginnings of a short story to hopefully be included in an anthology. I am also beginning to work on another series, which is going to be a futuristic science-fiction horror. The series revolves around a teenage man who is living in an advanced medical facility in Area 51 who is suffering from amnesia. And I’m also brain storming for the second book in The Rite of Wands series.

  11. How can we contact you or find out more about your books? 
Social Media Links:
Website: http://www.mackenzieflohr.com
WordPress: https://mackenzieflohrblog.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MackenzieFlohrAuthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mackenzieflohr
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mackenzieflohr/
Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/u/0/116289179891559911106
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16247559.Mackenzie_Flohr

Mackenzie Flohr
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2 Comments

Guest Post: Andy Peloquin - Why Writing is a Form of Personal Therapy

8/1/2017

1 Comment

 
Communicating my emotions, thoughts, and feelings has always been difficult for me. I was raised in Japan, a society where people hid everything beneath a mask of icy politeness. Being ostracized by my schoolmates certainly didn't make it any easier to open up to people. With all the outdated stereotypical attitudes that come from being a male ("emotions are for sissies!") and the fact that I have Asperger's Syndrome (difficulties with nonverbal communication and social interactions), sometimes it feels like the cards are stacked against me in this one area.

But, like an artist uses his canvas to express whatever emotion is going through his head, I've been able to use the "canvas" of my books, stories, and blog to share bits and pieces of myself with people.

It's terrifying to put your art into the world. There's always the fear that people won't enjoy it—or they may even hate it. As the person responsible for creating that art, it's hard not to feel like they're rejecting YOU when they reject or criticize your art.

Yet the rejection and criticism I my works have received have shown me a simple truth: I can handle it.

Yes, it's an awful feeling to read a 1-star review and realize that the work you were so proud of isn't quite as good as you thought. It's like a donkey kick in the gut, and definitely not the happiest aspect of writing. But with every negative review or critique, I realize that my art doesn't define who I am. Yes, I pour my blood, sweat, and tears into my writing. I do my best to make the work truly perfect, but I've come to understand that perfect doesn't exist. Now that I know that, I can stop taking critiques and negative feedback so personally.

And this is the best part: it's an attitude I can translate into the rest of my life. Whenever I hear someone say something negative about me or criticize me, I can remember that I am as flawed and imperfect as the art I have created. They don't dislike everything about me, just an aspect of me. Perhaps it's something I can't change, but it's not the complete me. There's more to me than just my faults and failings.

Writing has been my therapy in so many ways. It's given me a way to express my thoughts and feelings freely, even if I'm not certain I have the words just right. It's allowed me to tap into my inner artist in a way my pathetic painting, drawing, and graphic designing skills never permitted. But most of all, it's proven that I'm a bloody tough person who can handle criticism, rejection, and feedback. That's the sort of lesson that's worth its weight in gold!

New Release: Child of The Night Guild

Release Date: 17th January 2017
​Blurb:

Child of the Night Guild (Queen of Thieves Book 1)

"They killed my parents. They took my name. They imprisoned me in darkness. I would not be broken."

Viola, a child sold to pay her father's debts, has lost everything: her mother, her home, and her identity. Thrown into a life among criminals, she has no time for grief as she endures the brutal training of an apprentice thief. The Night Guild molds an innocent waif into a cunning, agile outlaw skilled in the thieves' trade. She has only one choice: steal enough to pay her debts.

The cutthroat streets of Praamis will test her mettle, and she must learn to dodge the City Guards or swing from a hangman's rope. But a more dangerous foe lurks within the guild walls. A sadistic rival apprentice, threatened by her strength, is out for blood.
​
What hope does one girl have in a world of ruthless men?
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About Andy Peloquin

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I am, first and foremost, a storyteller and an artist--words are my palette. Fantasy is my genre of choice, and I love to explore the darker side of human nature through the filter of fantasy heroes, villains, and everything in between. I'm also a freelance writer, a book lover, and a guy who just loves to meet new people and spend hours talking about my fascination for the worlds I encounter in the pages of fantasy novels.
​
Fantasy provides us with an escape, a way to forget about our mundane problems and step into worlds where anything is possible. It transcends age, gender, religion, race, or lifestyle--it is our way of believing what cannot be, delving into the unknowable, and discovering hidden truths about ourselves and our world in a brand new way. Fiction at its very best!

Website: http://www.andypeloquin.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AndyPeloquin 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andyqpeloquin

1 Comment

New Horizons by Joanne Van Leerdam

19/11/2016

0 Comments

 
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New Horizons Synopsis

A change of scenery. A new direction. A break in the weather.
Who hasn’t hoped for something different at some point in their life?

These sixteen short stories offer insights into how people respond when they encounter experiences and events they have not foreseen, or when they discover new horizons in their lives.

About Joanne Van Leerdam

In addition to writing poetry and short stories, Joanne is a teacher of English, History and Drama/Production. She is an active member and performer in her local theatre company. 
Her hobbies include reading, music, and photography. 

Joanne loves travelling, and has visited many places in Australia as well as holidaying in New Zealand, Fiji, the USA and Canada at different times. 

Joanne's first book of poetry, 'Leaf', was published in June, 2016. 
Joanne has also published a  short play, 'The Shakespeare Omelette'. Both are available via Amazon and iBooks. 
She anticipates the birth of her second book of poetry in February or March next year, and is already thinking about possible names. 

Website: www.jvlpoet.com 
Twitter:  http://twitter.com/jvlpoet

Where To Buy New Horizons

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Joanne's New Horizons Giveaway

For the latest events and possible giveaways, please see the New Horizons Facebook page facebook.com/newhorizonsjvl

My New Horizons Giveaway

Joanne has very kindly given me a copy of the New Horizons Kindle ebook, to giveaway to one of my readers.  All you need to do to enter the giveaway is leave a comment on this blog post.  The giveaway will close on 26/11/16 when the winner will be chosen at random.

Congratulations Joanne

I'm honored to be part of your New Horizons launch team and wish both you and the book every success.
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Shiva XIV - The Riddle of The Gods - by Lyra Shanti

14/11/2016

1 Comment

 
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Shiva XIV  Synopsis

The war for Deius begins, but first, the battle for Sirin must be fought.
In this third and action-packed installment of Shiva XIV, Ayn yearns for freedom while Srah and Axis find their true home. All the while, Yol Notama brings The Tah to the edge of madness!
Fates will be decided and old Gods will awaken as the most ancient of riddles is finally answered.

About Lyra Shanti

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Lyra is a novelist, singer-songwriter, poet, and playwright.  Having grown up in Bellingham, Washington, Lyra is a nature and animal lover with a ferocious love of epic stories of every genre, but especially sci-fi and fantasy. 
At first, Lyra was drawn to writing songs, even at the tender age of 7 years old. Then, it was poetry, play-writing, and eventually, musicals. It wasn't until much later that Lyra began writing novels, but between Lyra's Shiva XIV series and the many stories yet to come, Lyra's dedication to story telling has only just begun.

Author website http://www.lyrashanti.com/
Book website http://www.shivaxiv.com/
Twitter http://www.twitter.com/LyraShanti 

Where To Buy Shiva XIV The Riddle of The Gods

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Lyra's book Giveaway

For the latest news and possible giveaways please visit the Facebook launch event page for the book 
https://www.facebook.com/events/1251196588275748/

My Shiva XIV The Riddle of The Gods Giveaway

Lyra has very kindly given me an ebook copy of the Shiva XIV The Riddle of The Gods to give away to one of my readers.  All you need to do to enter the giveaway is leave a comment on this blog post. The giveaway will close on 24/11 when the winner will be chosen at random.

Congratulations Lyra

I'm honored to be part of the launch team for Shiva XIV The Riddle of The Gods and wish both you and the book every success.
1 Comment

"Remember" - A Christmas Novella by Joan Carney

7/11/2016

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Hello and welcome to the latest "Indie Author Cooperative" Book Launch Blog Tour.  Today we're joining with the romance author Joan Carney, to celebrate the Kindle launch of her Christmas novella “Remember”
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 "Remember" Synopsis

For most people, Christmas is a time of joy and anticipation. But when a freak accident robs Gracie of her memory, the lines between fantasy and reality blur.
Now there’s only one gift Gracie wants for Christmas, and the only man who can bring it is not Santa.

About Joan Carney

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A transplant from the concrete sidewalks of New York City to the sunny beaches of Southern California, Ms. Carney enjoys writing stories about women who are strong—whether by nature or circumstance—and the men who love and respect them for who they are. Things that make her happy are rainy days (too much sun is a bore), writing the perfect first line, family get-togethers, reading books that grab her heart, and finding new connections in her genealogy research. Bold coffee and dark chocolate fuel the artistic fire inspired by her family, friends, and psycho, lizard hunting cat

Website: www.joancarneyauthor.com 
Twitter: ​ www.twitter.com/JCarneyWrites​


Where to Buy

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Joan’s ​"​Remember​"​ Giveaway

​To celebrate the launch of "Remember,"​​ Joan is hosting a giveaway on her blog, where you can win an Amazon giftcard, or a copy of her ​​previous release, "Fated Memories."  To enter the giveaway, please head over to her blog​ 
http://www.joancarneyauthor.com/blog​

My ​"​Remember"​ Giveaway

Joan has very kindly given me a copy of the Remember Kindle ebook, to giveaway to one of my readers.  All you need to do to enter the giveaway is leave a comment on this blog post.  The giveaway will close on 17/11 when the winner will be chosen at random.

Congratulations Joan!

I’m honored to be a part of your Remember launch team and wish both you and the book every success!
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Blog Hop Hunt 2016 - Thomas Duder

13/10/2016

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Hi, I’m Scarlett Van Dijk, author of the Sky Stone series, and I’m your host for this stop in the Hunt.
 
If you would like to find out more about the Hunt, please click here - http://vfcscavengerhunt.weebly.com/
Somewhere on this page is a hidden number. Collect all the numbers from all the authors’ posts, and then add them up. Once you’ve added all the numbers, and if I am your last author, please head to the official website and click on the ENTER HERE page to find the entry form. Only entries will the correct number will qualify to win.
 
The author I’m pleased to be hosting for Virtual FantasyCon’s Blog Hop Hunt today is Thomas Duder.

​THE GENERALIST

​Action adventure, urban fantasy, and some of the hardest-hitting fantasy violence in the industry!
 
The Generalist takes place in the year 2017, in a world that has been horribly changed due to an event known as “The Havoc of 2012.” During that time many limiters that had been placed on the planet were suddenly broken, resulting in a sudden escalation in various forms of energy (The Four Basic Food Groups of Energy: Magical, Spiritual, Psionic, and Ki). To add to the chaos came the sudden power grabs by nearly every secret society, government agency, and more.
 
Every pantheon of god and goddess ever worshiped suddenly all attempted to claim the world as their own, Artifacts (items of incredible power) became a commodity beyond any stockbroker’s dream, and it was only through the intervention of certain people and organizations (the Vatican, the American Government, and the organization known as “The Generalists”) that the world didn’t devour itself overnight.
 
What made matters worse wasn’t the eventual revelation of these organization’s long-standing alliances with those eldritch types (contracts with the Fae, the original Pact of Pantheons that the gods and goddesses eventually worked out in order to safeguard their various cults), but even more so the upsurge in Monster-Gene activity.
 
Secreted within the genes of the populace, “monster template” genes were found to be extremely vital, never losing their viability even with generations of interbreeding with normal humans. The phenomenon of transformation (“metamorphosis” for accidental transformation, “morphogenesis” for those who actively sought it) used to occur somewhat rarely.
 
After the Havoc, anything from a violent mugging to a gentle sneeze could activate it, causing the new Monster to riot in a cannibalistic rampage.
 
Beforehand, bounty hunters had to fight with the Vatican itself in order to get their hands on activated Monster-Gened. Today, they have little more competition, yet what was once a secret occurrence has become a public issue, made even more so by the publicly-recognized and acknowledged UnGrimm Troll, Dash.
 
The Generalist, as a series, follows the misadventures of The Shop. A paranormal goods and 15 supernatural services store, they stand at the pinnacle of the food chain, employing brutality as well as subtle diplomacy in order to keep the heavy balance of Neo-Los Angeles from tipping to one group or another.
 
Ultimately, their fate is entwined with their allies and the citizens of Neo-L.A., a fact that gets hammered in time and time again with each big battle.
 
Whether the city is a war zone or if it's a personal duel, The Shop stands ready to fight the toughest of opponents, interdimensional villainous overlords, and even the gods themselves.
 
“Get the job done. Get paid. Repeat.”
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​THE GENERALIST! Because you cannot read about people getting punched in the face ENOUGH!
DOWNLOAD THE FIRST BOOK FREE AT:
US - goo.gl/Zan2x1
International - goo.gl/1MLkdw
 
Did you find the number? If you did, then click Thomas Duder’s link – http://www.facebook.com/generalistmarketing to continue Virtual FantasyCon’s Blog Hop Hunt.
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Guest Post: Lynne Stringer - Once Confronted

27/9/2016

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They say you should write about what you know, and that was true with at least one element of my latest novel, Once Confronted.

Once Confronted tells the story of Madison Craig. Just out of high school and working part-time in a bookstore café, she is the victim of an armed robbery. Just like me.

Many years ago, I was the victim of an armed robbery while working in a bookstore. My circumstances were a little different from Madison’s; her assailant had a gun, mine had a knife; she was working there with someone else, while I was alone. But the shattering effect it had on her life and mine is the same, as well as the struggle to put life back together again after something like that.

I originally wrote this story only seven years after it happened, partially in a way to help me process what happened but also as a challenge to myself. You see, Madison is challenged to forgive one of her attackers, something that I felt was necessary to do but didn’t know if I could. Perhaps it was unfair of me to put her in a place like that but I was interested in seeing what she’d do in that situation (yes, sometimes characters can become frighteningly real to authors!).

I hope this is a book that will help people struggling with the idea of forgiveness. It can be a difficult thing to do and I know it can take a lot of time to get to that point. My attacker was never caught, so I have no idea what even happened to him. I do wonder about it though, and if I would forgive him if he asked me to. I may never know. And would I forgive him even if he didn’t ask?
​
That’s even harder to answer.

About Lynne Stringer

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Lynne Stringer has been passionate about writing all her life, beginning with short stories in her childhood. She began writing professionally as a journalist and was the editor of a small newspaper (later magazine) for seven years, before turning her hand to screenplay writing and novels. Lynne is the author of the Verindon trilogy, a young adult science fiction romance series released in 2013. Her latest novel, Once Confronted, is scheduled for release on October 1st, 2016. Visit www.lynnestringer.com for more information.

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Sky Stone Freebie Giveaway!

29/8/2016

0 Comments

 
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Recently Sky Stone has undergone a full re-edit (thanking again my lovely editor Vanessa Wells). Now that revised version of Sky Stone is online and available for purchase.
​

So, with the second edition of Sky Stone now available I thought I would celebrate by offering it to you all for free!
For only 2 weeks, ending on the 12th of September, Sky Stone is available on instaFreebie as a free epub download.
Great opportunity for you readers who haven't taken the plunge in to the land of Branzia and want to get a taste, but also for you fab people who already had a copy of the previous edition of Sky Stone.

​Grab the new Sky Stone here for free:

https://www.instafreebie.com/free/zPtuo
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A Duel to the Death with Andy Peloquin!

19/8/2016

0 Comments

 
I, Andy Peloquin, challenge you, Scarlett Van Djik, to a duel to the death! But it is not we who will fight, but our characters…
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In the black corner, weighing in at 180 pounds, standing a cool 6 feet tall, the Hunter of Voramis!
Tale of the Tape:
  • Half-demon assassin with superhuman reflexes, strength, speed--think Captain America, but stronger
  • Thousands of years of weapons training
  • Fights with long sword (in right hand) and dagger (main gauche)
  • Body has accelerated healing factor--can survive a sword to the heart (can be killed by drowning, iron weapons, beheading, and suffocation)
  • Cannot be killed by anything but iron
  • Soulhunger, an accursed dagger that heals him and floods him with vitality when he kills
  • No magical abilities whatsoever
  • No hesitation to kill if he perceives opponent as a threat/obstacle to his desires--classic anti-hero

In the red corner, we have Skyla, at 132 pounds, 5 foot 6 inches, The Phoenix!
Tale of the Tape:
  • Able to pick up fighting skills extremely quickly with expertise in bow and sword.
  • Night vision
  • Cool head under pressure with a good mind for combat tactics
  • Able to manipulate fire
  • Able to wield magic (magic is an objectification of the wielders will. Can create shields, spears etc. of magic, enhance the physical body to absorb impact and give greater strength and speed although this will gradually cause harm to the body with excessive use. Also can create illusions but requires more mental concentration)
  • Able to detect killing intent at a glance and so can determine friend from foe easily
  • Very emotional human whose intensity effects the strength of her skills, specifically that of the fire wielding. Has been known to decimate an entire army with her magic when she thought her lover was dead…
  • No self-healing abilities (relies on others)

Two enter the ring, only one can leave alive!

How would the Hunter kill Skyla?
The Hunter would try to overwhelm her with his inhuman speed, strength, and skill. All he has to do is pierce her skin with Soulhunger, and the dagger will consume her soul. Not even someone with considerable magical abilities can survive Soulhunger's bite--it was created to kill demons.


How would Skyla kill the Hunter?
Their fighting skills would likely be on par. However, the Hunter’s superhuman abilities would cause Skyla to require magic physical enhances to evade and match his strength. Hence, if Skyla was to fight sword to sword, she would gradually be worn down. So, the optimal tactic would be to use fire to cremate The Hunter while remaining out of his reach. The uncertainty here, is whether the flames could do their work faster than The Hunter could heal himself. If this was to fail, Skyla would try to disorient or trick The Hunter by using magic illusions or fire to get behind him and decapitate him.

​Who would win?
Haha! I would say 90% The Hunter. With his combat skills, and superhuman and healing abilities, it is most likely The Hunter would win the fight. If he did not end the battle quickly it would mean a very long drawn out battle which would likely end with Skyla being overcome by fatigue anyway. Skyla’s only chance to win the fight would be to do so quickly by using all of her fire power, or by using trickery.

Want to find out more about this demonic assassin who would challenge Skyla to the death? Click the links below to buy Andy's latest book, Lament of the Fallen: 
Amazon Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Last-Bucelarii-Book-Lament-Fallen/dp/1535388668/
Amazon Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/Last-Bucelarii-Book-Lament-Fallen/dp/1535388668/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30973111-lament-of-the-fallen
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About Andy Peloquin

Andy Peloquin
Andy Peloquin--a third culture kid to the core--has loved to read since before he could remember. Sherlock Holmes, the Phantom of the Opera, and Father Brown are just a few of the books that ensnared his imagination as a child.

When he discovered science fiction and fantasy through the pages of writers like Edgar Rice Burroughs, J.R.R Tolkien, and Orson Scott Card, he was immediately hooked and hasn't looked back since.

Andy's first attempt at writing produced In the Days: A Tale of the Forgotten Continent. He has learned from the mistakes he made and used the experience to produce Blade of the Destroyer, a book of which he is very proud.

Reading—and now writing—is his favorite escape, and it provides him an outlet for his innate creativity. He is an artist; words are his palette.
His website (http://www.andypeloquin.com) is a second home for him, a place where he can post his thoughts and feelings--along with reviews of books he finds laying around the internet.

He can also be found on his social media pages, such as:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AndyPeloquin
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andyqpeloquin
www.linkedin.com/in/andypeloquin/
https://plus.google.com/100885994638914122147/about
https://www.amazon.com/author/andypeloquin
​https://www.facebook.com/andrew.peloquin.1


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Guest Post: Geetanjali Mukherjee - How I Became An “Author”

25/4/2016

1 Comment

 
I started writing as soon as I learned how to string words into sentences. I would curl up into a quiet corner with a notepad and write – little poems and short stories. I remember this one character I made up, an amalgam of a bunch of different animals, that my mom loved and probably saw as evidence that I would become a writer one day. 
Unfortunately English class intervened, and the inevitable criticism and dreaded comments in red pen sent my imagination packing, where it cowered in a corner for the next decade or so. I decided that I would become a writer, one day. I just needed to get over my decade-long writer's block first. 

In the meantime, since I couldn’t write, I read. Not just every book of fiction I could get my hands on, but also every writing reference book that was available in the library. If I couldn’t write myself, I could read how others were doing it. And the entire time, I repressed the slight feeling of disappointment that I felt in myself, for not being able to write. And I kept writing, but it wasn’t "real" writing, and it wasn’t what I really wanted to write. 

I wrote essays and stories for class assignments. By this time I had moved cities and schools, and my new English teachers raved about my work. They wrote glowing praise on my assignments, this time with blue pen. And somehow whether it was that I was in a kinder environment, or perhaps the lack of that loud red ink, I didn’t quite believe that my work merited the praise. I thought maybe my teachers were just being nice. They continued to be nice by sending me to every creative writing competition the school entered. I still didn’t think of myself as a writer. By this time, I had graduated to writing poems. I wrote several poems a week. Especially when I was feeling heartbroken over a boy. Which of course was a regular occurrence. 

One of the writing advice books I read at the time recommended never wasting any of your research. I had written around 40 essays analyzing the poems we were assigned in our Elective English class, and I decided that it would be a good resource for other literature students if it was compiled into a book. Around that time I happened to visit the Delhi Book Fair with my mom, and I went around to all the booths of the educational publishers, collecting their card. Once home, I sent each of them a query (I must have broken every rule concerning query submissions), explaining my idea for the book. And I never heard back from a single one of them.

Till I was at my first semester at university, and I got an email from one of the publishers, expressing regret that they couldn’t publish my book, but on a separate note, would I be interested in writing something else for them? So that's how my first book came into being, and I was a published author at the age of 19. 

The funny thing is, I still didn’t see myself as an author. After the initial euphoria regarding my book died down, I went back to life as it was before – I still couldn’t muster up the courage to write what I wanted, or complete a single story or article idea. And the few pieces that I did write for the university student paper were either edited heavily or not published at all. It was quite clear that the editors there really didn’t care for my writing. Obviously, none of this encouraged me to write more, and I more or less stopped writing.
​
Until after graduation, when I was visiting my grandmother, and went to the local bookstore. And I stumbled onto Julia Cameron's The Right to Write. That book changed my perspective completely, and I realized that I simply had to write. And that I was worthy of being a writer, if that was something that I wanted to do. So I wrote. A lot. It was like some sort of dam had burst, and words gushed from me in waves. And although I still hadn’t completed anything, I was writing far more regularly.

Skipping the many other little detours and scenic stops along the journey, in 2013 I discovered Smashwords, and in 2014 I started publishing with Amazon KDP. I published 4 books in 2014, mostly versions of books and manuscripts that I had already written in some form. It was then that finally I practiced calling myself an author. People would ask me what I did, and I would mumble, and say that I did research and also wrote books. The last I would say so quietly, most people didn’t catch it. After the twentieth time, I started to say, and I am also a writer. And would say this a little louder. And someone might ask me what I wrote, and I would tell them. Usually people were so impressed I blushed, and looked down at my feet. I couldn’t handle either the blank looks and pitying glances when people thought I was a loser, and neither did I feel comfortable when someone was in awe of my accomplishments. I wanted a middle ground, a matter-of-fact response, same as if I had told them that I was an accountant or a lawyer. 
​
I used to think that other people were the problem. That I needed validation. I needed someone to tell me that my writing was good. Or that I had accomplished enough to be able to use that term. Written enough books, sold enough books, had gotten enough reviews. Every time I reached a milestone, I moved the bar. Until I realized that I had to validate myself. I got to decide whether or not I was an author. I got to decide how I saw myself, and others would follow. The day I understood that, I was able to start telling people that I was an author. Loudly. Confidently. And then I no longer needed to. Because everywhere I went, whenever someone asked me what I did, even before I could respond, someone else would tell them, "Oh do you know, she's an author". In fact, I couldn’t walk into a room without hearing that introduction about myself. 

And then I realized, I had never needed anyone else's validation. Only my own.

About ​Geetanjali Mukherjee

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​Geetanjali Mukherjee grew up in India, spending her early years in Kolkata, and then attending high school in New Delhi. She went on to read law as an undergraduate at the University of Warwick, United Kingdom, where she joined as many clubs as possible while still giving the impression she understood the intricacies of trusts law. She went on to earn a Masters' in Public Administration from Cornell University, United States, while trying not to freeze along with the famed Ithaca lakes. She is also a member of Pi Alpha Alpha, the Global Honor Society for Public Affairs and Administration. Geetanjali is the author of 6 books, although sometimes it feels like the one she is writing is the very first one. Her latest book Anyone Can Get An A+: How To Beat Procrastination, Reduce Stress and Improve Your Grades is available at Amazon.
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    A Writer's Tale

    Scarlett Van Dijk

    Writer of young adult, fantasy series, the Sky Stone series, poetry and short stories.
    I hope to update this blog weekly with tips for writers and some personal stories. There will also be guest posts from fellow writers. Stay tuned!


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